Avenging Luna
Chapter 140: The Imprint Bond

Chapter 140: The Imprint Bond

Leila’s POV:

Life with Chase feels like a roller coaster that never ends, and I’m not sure if I should be bracing for the next loop or just letting go and hoping for the best. One minute, I’m worried about whether he’ll make it back safely. The next, he’s walking through the door bloody—thankfully not his own blood—telling me something is hunting me and my son because of him.

As if that wasn’t enough, we had a conversation that ended with me reluctantly promising not to run away from him again. Not because I trust him completely, but because deep down, I know running would only put Ash in more danger. And then, just when I think I can maybe catch my breath, he decides to go all romantic and cook breakfast, acting like a domestic prince charming, only to drop the mother of all bombs: he’s imprinted on Ash.

Imprinted. On. My. Son.

It took everything in me not to slam my fork down and storm out of the room. The absurdity of it all hit me like a freight train. I never wanted Ash to be involved in any of this supernatural chaos. My life? Fine. Fate had already dragged me through its twisted games, but Ash? He’s just a kid. A happy, carefree, too-curious-for-his-own-good kid. And now, here we are—a vampire, my mate, telling me he’s bound to my son, who’s a wolf.

Another unheard-of bond.

What the hell is wrong with fate? Can it not give me a damn break for once? First, I end up with a mate bond I didn’t ask for, with a species that everyone in my world would disapprove of. Now, my son—my heart, my everything—is tied to the very same vampire in a bond that’s just as unique, if not more baffling.

It’s overwhelming.

Sitting here, trying to process all this, my thoughts are a whirlwind of emotions. The implications are enormous. I can already hear the whispers of the supernatural community echoing in my head. Werewolves and vampires don’t mix—at least, not without centuries of grudges, battles, and bloodshed tainting the very idea. Our mate bond? That alone would have the wolves I grew up with howling in protest and the vampires Chase serves sharpening their blades.

And now this? A vampire imprinting on a wolf? Worse, on my son? It’s going to throw the entire supernatural world into chaos.

I look at Ash, sitting on the couch with his legs tucked under him, completely engrossed in his cartoons, oblivious to the storm that’s brewing around him. He doesn’t deserve this. He deserves a normal childhood, not to be dragged into some cosmic joke of a fate that keeps throwing curveballs at us.

But here we are.

The worst part is, I can’t even be mad at Chase—not entirely. He didn’t ask for this either. Imprinting isn’t something he chose; it’s something that happened. Something instinctive. But knowing that doesn’t make it easier. If anything, it just makes it harder because now I can’t even blame him.

Instead, I’m left grappling with a reality that’s spiraling further and further out of my control. One thing is certain: the entire supernatural world is going to be against this. Against me and Chase. Against Ash and whatever this new bond means for him. It’s not just one unheard-of connection anymore; it’s two.

A mate bond between a wolf and a vampire.

An imprint bond between a wolf pup and the same vampire.

It’s too much. Too much for me to make sense of. Too much to think about without wanting to scream or throw something. Too much to handle when all I really wanted was a quiet life for me and Ash—a life where we didn’t have to look over our shoulders or worry about old grudges or ancient monsters hunting us down.

But there’s no going back now. This is our reality. As much as I want to reject it, fight it, deny it, it won’t change the fact that these bonds exist. That Chase isn’t going anywhere. That Ash is now tied to him in ways I barely understand, let alone know how to protect him from.

What the hell do I do now?

Okay. Now what?

Apparently, something was after us—a terrifying and vague something—because of Chase. And if that wasn’t enough, there was now a bond between Chase and my son, Ash, that I could barely wrap my head around.

Seriously. What was I supposed to do with all of this?

I sat there, staring at Chase, who had the audacity to look completely calm. He stood by the window, his crimson eyes scanning the horizon like he could physically hold back whatever threat was out there just by sheer willpower. And maybe he could. He was a vampire, after all. But knowing that didn’t make any of this easier for me to process.

"How exactly am I supposed to move forward with all this?" I asked, my voice sharper than I intended. "How am I supposed to figure out what my life looks like now—with you, with Ash, and with... whatever this is?"

Chase turned his gaze to me, his expression unreadable. "Leila, I know this is overwhelming. But I’m here to help you through it."

I laughed, though it was more bitter than amused. "Help me? You’re the one who brought this chaos into my life in the first place. I was doing fine before you showed up."

"Were you?" he asked, his voice quiet but cutting.

That shut me up. Because no, I wasn’t fine. I hadn’t been fine in years, not since Ash’s father abandoned us and I’d had to build a life for myself and my son from scratch. But admitting that to Chase felt like giving him an edge, and I wasn’t about to do that.

Instead, I folded my arms and glared at him. "What do you want from me, Chase? Do you expect me to just drop everything and follow you into... what? Vampire land? Because that’s not happening."

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I’m not asking you to do anything you don’t want to do, Leila. I know you need time to process this. But we need to work together if we’re going to keep Ash safe."

Ah. There it was. The trump card. Ash. He knew I’d do anything to protect my son, even if it meant trusting a vampire I barely knew.

I hated how easily he saw through me. "You don’t think I’m doing everything I can to keep him safe already?"

"I know you are," he said, his tone softening. "But the danger we’re facing—it’s not something you can handle alone. You’re strong, Leila, stronger than you give yourself credit for. But this... this is different."

I wanted to argue. I wanted to scream at him that I didn’t need his help, that I’d been handling things on my own for years. But deep down, I knew he was right. The threats I’d faced before were nothing compared to whatever shadowy force was hunting us now.

"What even is this danger?" I asked, leaning back against the couch. "You keep saying something is after us, but you’re not telling me what."

Chase hesitated, his jaw tightening. "I don’t know exactly who or what is behind it yet. But I do know they’re powerful. And they won’t stop until they get what they want."

"Great. Very comforting," I muttered, rubbing my temples. "And Ash? What does this bond between you and him even mean? Is he in danger because of it?"

"No," Chase said firmly, stepping closer to me. "If anything, the bond protects him. It means I can sense when he’s in danger. I can reach him instantly if he calls for me. He’s safer with me in his life than he would be without me."

I wanted to believe him. I really did. But the weight of everything was crashing down on me all at once, and I didn’t know how to handle it. I’d spent so long keeping Ash away from supernatural chaos, away from wolves and vampires and all the drama that came with them. And now here I was, smack in the middle of it again, with a vampire prince as my mate and my son’s unexpected protector.

"Leila," Chase said, his voice pulling me from my spiraling thoughts. "I know this is a lot. But you’re not alone in this anymore. You have me. Whether you want to accept that or not, I’m here."

I looked at him, really looked at him, and for a moment, I saw past the arrogance and the power. I saw the vulnerability he tried so hard to hide, the unwavering determination in his eyes. He wasn’t going to give up on me or Ash, no matter how hard I pushed him away.

And maybe, just maybe, I didn’t want him to.

"I need time," I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper. "Time to figure out what this means. For me, for Ash, for all of us."

Chase nodded, a small, almost hopeful smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Take all the time you need. I’ll be here."

For once, I believed him.